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President Raul Castro has repeated Cuba's support for the Venezuelan government as it faces “an unconventional war” led by “imperialism” and the country's “oligarchy” in a bid to topple President Nicolas Maduro with a coup.
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During a speech marking the end of the Cuban Congress's extraordinary session, Castro condemned the opposition violence initiated in April on the streets of Caracas and other cities as “fascists actions.”
He mentioned the videos showing several young Venezuelans being burnt alive during anti-Maduro protests.
He urged the opposition to stop the “terrorist violence” designed “to oust” the president, and called for Maduro's opponents to accept the Bolivarian government's offer of dialogue.
Castro also asked the Organization of American States and its Secretary General Luis Almagro to “stop attacking Venezuela” and “manipulating reality.”
“Venezuela's legitimate right to find a peaceful solution to its domestic affairs should be respected with no foreign interference,” he said, adding that only the sovereign Venezuelan people are entitled to use the right to self-determination.
Cuba's President also condemned the “political persecution” of Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, recently condemned to a 9-year prison sentence over bribeery and money-laundering charges.
Lula denies any wrongdoing.
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